Side-door post for cars.



Patented Dec. '26, i916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C.HARTER.

. Patented Dec. 26, A1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

1 5/ 5\- 6 FMS. [45. f l l y A F16. a. Z6 .59

' door opening;

CHARLES HARTER, OF ST. LQUIS, MISSOURI.

SIDE-DOOR POST FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

application filed July 3, 1916. Serial No. 107,287,

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HAnTnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Side-Door Posts for Cars, of which the following is a fr clear, `and exact; description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, .forming part of this specification..

My invention relates generally to railway cars and more particularly to a movable door post which coperates with the sliding doors which normally close the side door opening of a box car.

lt will be understood that the side door opening of a box ear is generally of a fixed or standard width and while such opening is of sullicient'width for ordinary purposes,

it will not admit the loading of objects of.

unusual size, such as motor vehicles, trucks, or extra large machines which are necessai-ily shipped in assembled forni, and to overcomcthese objections I propose to construct a box car withn an extra wide side door opening; to utilize two sliding doors for normally closing said opening` and cornbine with the car and doors a movable door post which is positioned between the doors and which serves as a reinforcing or strengthening member between the side sill and side plate of the car body at a point near the center of the side door opening.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a con'uiaratively simple door post for the side door opening of a box car which pestis mounted for slidingr movement in either direction independently of the doors which cooperate with said post and close the` opening; to tprovide simple means for effectively locking` both ends ol the post to the par body so that when properly positioned, said post forms a brace and strengthening nicmber near the center of `the side to. provide, simple means for effecting a ready release of the means which connects and locks the ends of the post to,

the car body; and tow-.onstruct the post lockingmeans so that. it will automatically shift intoilocking position when the post is returned to its normal position.

v:lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain nevel features of construct-ion and arrangement of parts, hereinafter 'more fully described,

` l. Fig.

claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevational lview of a portion of the side of abox `car having a side door yopeningof extra width, said car being equipped with a door post of my improved construction. Fig, 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. proximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the Aline 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. G is a vertical section taken approximately 'on the line 6 6 of F ig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sectional views showing the locking means at the upper end of the door post in different positions. Fig. 9 is a detail section of the side post of the car body and showing the supporting rails upon Ivwhich the post travels during its movement across the door opening. Fig. lO is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line llll of Fig. G.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, l0 designates the side sill of a car, ll the side plate and l2 the usual side wall, which latter is provided with an extra wide door opening, the same being normally closed by a main door 13' and an auxiliary door lf-l, both of which doors are of ordinary construction and of the sliding type inasmuch as they are provided at their upper ends with the usual hangers 14a, the rollers of which operate Von rails l secured to the car body above the door opening.

Fixed to the underside of the plate ll and at a point where the edges of the doors 13 and i4 meet is a block 1G, preferably cast and provided in its lower outer corners with recesses 17, the same being separattnlv by a transversely ranged wall 1S.`

Fixed in any suitable manner to the side sill at a point immediately beneath block 1G is a block lll preferably cast, and pr vided in its upper outer corners with notches or recesses 20, the same being separated by a centrally arranged transversely disposed wall 2l.

The post Q2 contemplated by my invention may be formed of either wood or metal, and fixed to the upper'end thereg in any suitable manner is a hanger casting 23, the same being provided with upwardly Aprodisposed centrally ard is a vertical section taken ap` jecting inner and outer legs E24 and 25 respectively. J ournaled at the ends ot the inner leg 2lare rollers 2G which bear on a track rail 27, preferably an angle` which is iixed in any suitable manner to the sides oi. plate 11 immediately over the door opening. Formed integral-with or tixedto the upper portion ot' outer leg is an inwardly projecting hook or fiange which engages over the horizontal tlange of a rail 29, preierably in the form ot an angle which is fixed in any suitable manner to the plate l1 immediately above the door opening.

The means tor loclting'tlie upper end ot the post to block 1G is located in the space between the lower portions of legs 24 and 25, said means comprising a comparatively long jaw and Aa comparatively short jaw 31, both o" said jaws being provided with trunnions 32 and 33 respectively which occupy the same horizontal plane and are journaled in legs 2J; and These jaws are spaced apart and when in vertical or locking po'tion5 their upper portions occupy the notches or recesses 17 on opposite sides ot' the' wall 18. (See Fig. (i.) j

Pivotally connected to the lower portion of the shorter jaw 31 a short distance 'from the axis thereof is one end ot a link 34, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end ot jaw 30. IThe lower portion of short jaw 31' is provided with a depending lng' 35 which is adapted to beengaged by a hook 3G, which latter is formed on the end ot a latching member Si', the same being provided with trunnions which are journaled in legs 2f-t and Pivotally connected to the outer end of the latching hook il? is the upper end ot' an its operating rod 38, the saine extending downward through suitable bearings on the side of post 22, the lower end ot said rod being provided with an operating handle 39.

The means for locking the lower end of the post to'block 19 is j'nactically the saine as the locking means just described,l said lower locking means comprising comparatively short and long locking jaws ll0 and 41, the same being provided` with suitable trunnions which are journaled in the walls of a housing the saine beingpreferably oast'aiid ixed to the lower end of post in any suitable. manner. When these last nientioned jaws are in vertical or locking position, their lower ends occupy the notches or recesses Q0 in block 19 on opposite sides ot the wall 21.

The upper end of jaw 40 is connected to the upper end ot jaw 41 by a link 43, and the upper end ot said jaw 4i() is provided with a lug 441 which is adapted to be engaged by a hook 45, the same being formed on the inner end ot' a. latcliinfr member 4G which is journaled to the walls ot member 42. Fixed to post 22 on the outer fano thereof ramper is a vertically disposed strip 47, the same serving as a stop against which the inner edges of the doors 13 and 14 engage when said doors are closed. v

luy suitable means can be utilized as an inside latch for securing the auxiliary door 14C to the post when Said door is in closed position. A simple form of latch is illustrated in Figs. and l, said latching means coinprising a hool i8 which is pivotally mounted on the door posty and projecting toward the side which engages the free edge of the auxiliary door. This hook is adapted to engage behind a lug 4:9, the same projecting inwardly from a plate 50, the latter being fixed to the inside of door 111 adjacent to the inner edge tlieieoi". Under ordinary conditions or where only the main door 13 is in use, the door post occupying a position at the inner edge of auxiliary door lei and locked thereto, and to the Car body abore and below the door opening, serves as the door post against which the tree edge ot main door 13 engages when the latter is closed. lt will be understood that when in loi-lied position. the upper ends of jaws 30 and 31 occupy the recesses 17 and with hook 3G engaging the lug on the lower e-nd of jaw 31, the parts are held in locking position. Likewise, the lower end of the post is locked to block 19 by the engagement of the lower 'ends ot jaws e() and yl1 in the recesses 20. and said jaws are held in such locking position by the engagement of hook with the lug li on the end ot' jaw 10.

llvhen it` is desired to provide the wide door opening tor the purpose of loading or unloading extra large objects. the main door 13 is moved a 'ay from post 22 to tull open position` after which the latching` means between the auxiliary door and post- 2'2 is releasedA thus permitting said auxiliary door to be moved away from the post to Jfull openr position. The post is now unlocked or disconnected from the car body by raising rod 8S and simultaneously depressing the outer end of bitching member 4G. rFliese operations diseonnect hooks 8G and Jl-5 from the lugs on the ends of short jaws 31 and 4-1, and the post is now moved toward the edge oi au.\iliary door 1l, during which movenient the rollers 2G ride upon track 27 and the rollers on hangers lia travel in theusual manner upon rail 15. fis the post moves away from blocks 16 and 19, the transverse walls 1S and 21 will bear against the inner 'faces ot' the short jaws 31 and 40, thereby swinging said jaws upon their fulcrirnjis i ie into substantially horizontal positions,

movements thus imparted to the short. jaws is'transmitted by links 34 Iand 43 to long jaws 30 and 41, but owing to the distance between the points where the links are pivotod to said jaws and the trunnionsot said jaws, the latter will only be shifted a slight distance and the movement will be such that their free ends will be moved toward the short jaws. Thus, the jaws in moving away from the blocks 16 and 19, are set or shifted into position so that they will automatically return to locking positions when the post is returned to its normal position.

By making the door post separate and independent ot both doors it can be maintained in normal position while both doors are open and when so positioned it serves as a .reinforcing and strengthening niember between the side sill and top plate ot the car frame and at a point intermediate the door posts which latter are necessarily spaced a considerable distance apart to provide the extra wide door opening. Further, when the door 13 is opened the post 22 serves as a door post against which the inner edge of the auxiliary door 14 engages and as said post is rigidly fixed at bot-h ends to parts of the car frame, the free edge of said auxiliary door has a lirm and substal'itial support and consequently there will be less tendency to unseat or detach the auxiliary door from the car body than where its free edge is unprotected and devoid of a substantial support and bearing.

.It desired, the post can be retained in its normal position and both doors opened, thus forming practically two openings, one 'otl which can be used as an entrance and the other as an exit for workmen engaged in loading or unloading the car. lVith both doors in full open position and the post positioned at the edge ot auxiliary door 14, the i'ull width ot' the door opening can be utilized in loading or unloading eXtra large objects, such as automobiles, trucks, large assembled machines, etc. When lthe post 1s returned to its normal position7 the lugs and 4.4 on the ends of the short jaws 31 and 4() will engage against the inner ends of the walls 18 and 21, thereby partially restoring the shorter jaws to their normal vertical positions, and as the 'free ends oi the longer their normal vertical or locking positions, with the free ends oi said jaws positioned in the recesses 17 and 2l). As the shorter jaws return to their normal or locking positions, the Ylugs 55 and ist on the inner ends oi `said jaws will be reiingaged by the hooks Si() and 45 with the result that said jaws will jaws 30 and 41. engage against the walls 18 vand 2l, both ends ot' jaws will be shi't'tedto The post cannot be detached from the'car bodyand, therefore, it cannot be lost or mislaid and when the post is in normal position it serves as a support and bearing for the inner edges ofthe doors, in addition to serving as a reinforcing and strengthening member between the side sill and side plate of the car body, and at a point near the center of the con'iparatively wide door opening. The ends ot' the post can be readily disconnected troni the car fran'iing; likewise said post can be readily disconnected from the auxiliary door, and when the post is re- 'turned to its normal position, the locking means carried by said post automatically reengages with the anchoring members which are tixed to the car frame.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of.

the various parts of my improved side door post can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit oit' my invention, the scope et' which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A car provided with a door opening, a post spanning said opening and having sliding connection with a portion of .the car hotly, socket blocks on the car body above and below the door opening, and a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on each end of the post which jaws are adapted to engage the socket blocks to lock the post to thecar body.

Q. A car provided with a door opening, a post spanning said opening and having sliding connection with a portion of the car body, socket blocks on the car body above and below the door opening, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on each end of the post wh'ich jaws are adapted to engage the socket .blocks to lock' the post to the car body, and

alatching member adapted to engage one of 'the jaws of each pair to hold the same in locked position.

3. A car provided with a door opening, a post spanning said opening and having sliding connection with a portion of the car body, a pair of pivotally mounted jaws on each end of the post, the members ot each pair otl jaws being connected so as to operate sinudtaneously, and means on the car body above and below the door opening 'for receiving the outer ends ot' said jaws and to cooperate therewith to hold the post in locked position.

4. A car provided with a door opening, a pair of sliding doors adapted to normally close said oj'iening, a post spanning said opening and having sliding connection with the car body independently ol' said doors, pivotaily mounted jaws on each end of the post, means on the car body above and below the door opening for receiving the outer ends ot said jaws to maintain the post in po- Sition between the slingdoors, and readily releasable leching means for seeming Said post to one of said doors.

5. A car provided with a door opening, post spanning said opening; and having Slick ing connection with a portion o1 the C2i-y body, blocks above und beow the door opening, each of which b'oeks is provided with. a pair of recesses, and n pail.' of locking 10 jaws pvotally mountedoneaeh end of the post, the ou'er euls of which jaws are anpb ed toeng'uge in the recesses of the blocks to hold 'the post locked to the am body.

n ostimony hereof hereuno ni): my Sgmme in the resen ee of two .yimeeses, fls iOh day of June, 1916.

CH A l LE l@ H XR TER.

1.Vnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL. 

